How quickly the joy shared by those at La Conner United Methodist Church, those who knew and loved Mark Stephens, turned to grief and sorrow.

It was only one year ago, last November, when many church members, overcome with emotion, pulled out tissues as they (and even Mark) shed tears of joy during a message Mark delivered about how this small church he had joined had become his “Home,” the place where “belonging” to a church had taken on new meaning in the lifelong process of his faith as a Christian.

Today, that same church community is now in shock and grieving the death and loss of a man known and loved in their close church relationships like a brother, a dear friend, a son and a gifted church leader.

Mark will be remembered as having the wonderful personal traits of intelligence, humor, creativity, conscientiousness and compassion, but most of all for having a Christian spirituality that kept him firmly grounded.

As a man of faith, using his spiritual gifts of wisdom, knowledge, reverence and understanding, Mark produced a fruitful legacy of belonging to a church community in which he will be remembered: for arriving early nearly every Sunday to listen to the church choir practice; for having a favorite pew to sit in with his beloved wife Christina; for always giving warm hugs and handshakes; for not wanting to wear a nametag; for greeting the Pastor with a heavy Italian accent saying “Mar-Cella, how goes it?”

Mark would eloquently read scripture from the pulpit, and was honored and deeply moved when asked to assist on Sundays with Holy Communion. Many church members will remember his care of church property as a Church Trustee and as a person who liked to take on difficult jobs and work independently (e.g. the red 100-year-old front door of the church which took him two weeks to paint in the summer of 2019, and as the church’s spaghetti dinner chef).

Mark was also able to put himself in other’s shoes as he volunteered to make breakfast on Thursday mornings for the Men’s Breakfast Meetings, and as he visited homebound church members, bringing gifts of treats, flowers or food that he or Christina had made.

These remembrances are only a few of the loving tributes that keep Mark’s memory alive. His life now continues on in a process of death and resurrection Mark understood as eternal.

His church, the people of La Conner UMC, honored Mark’s memory and his eternal “Homegoing” last Sunday, All Saints Sunday.

Pastor Marcella Baker

La Conner United Methodist Church